Optical cable and an apparatus for manufacturing the optical cable

Abstract

An optical cable has tensile elements and supporting elements embedded in an extruded outside cladding. The tensile elements are hauled-off from a supply reel and introduced into an extruder head serving to manufacture the outside cladding. The supporting elements are manufactured in a coextrusion with the outside cladding by appropriate channels formed in the extruder head.

I claim:  
     
       1. In an optical cable having an outside cladding surrounding waveguides with embedded tensile elements, the improvements comprising an inside layer being surrounded by the outside cladding to extend generally longitudinally therein said inside layer being a supporting element, the tensile elements being fashioned skein-like being embedded in the outside cladding. 
     
     
       2. In an optical cable according to claim  1 , which includes additional supporting elements having an extruded form and being embedded in said outside cladding. 
     
     
       3. In an optical cable according to claim  2 , wherein the additional supporting elements are of a material selected from a group consisting of liquid crystal polymers, polycarbonates and filled thermoplastics. 
     
     
       4. In an optical cable according to claim  3 , wherein the tensile elements are fiber-like materials. 
     
     
       5. In an optical cable according to claim  3 , wherein the tensile elements are flexible elements. 
     
     
       6. In an optical cable according to claim  1 , wherein the inside layer is produced of a harder material than a remainder of the outside cladding. 
     
     
       7. In an optical cable according to claim  1 , wherein the inside layer is glued to the remainder of the outside cladding. 
     
     
       8. In an optical cable having an outside cladding with tensile elements surrounding waveguides, the improvement comprising the cladding including at least one supporting element of an extruded material and the tensile elements being generally longitudinally extending skein-like elements embedded in the outside cladding. 
     
     
       9. In an optical cable according to claim  8 , wherein the cladding has more than one supporting element embedded therein. 
     
     
       10. In an optical cable according to claim  9 , wherein the supporting elements are of an extrudable material selected from a group consisting of liquid crystal polymers, polycarbonates and filled thermoplastics. 
     
     
       11. In an optical cable according to claim  10 , wherein the tensile elements are a flexible material selected from aramid yarns, glass yarns, carbon fibers and natural fibers. 
     
     
       12. In an optical cable according to claim  9 , wherein the supporting elements are arranged at a greater distance from the cable axis than the tensile elements. 
     
     
       13. In an optical cable according to claim  9 , wherein the supporting elements are fashioned with an approximately circular cross section. 
     
     
       14. In an optical cable according to claim  8 , wherein the cross section of the tensile elements has a greater expanse in a circumferential direction than in a radial direction. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for extruding an outside cladding with tensile elements and supporting elements on internal waveguides, said apparatus comprising an extruder head being provided with an interior passage through which the light waveguides are supplied to a discharge opening, said extruder head having an annular gap adjacent said opening, conduits for transporting tensile elements to said annular gap, channels being formed for guiding the material for the supporting elements to said gap and a passage for transporting the cladding material to said gap. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus according to claim  15 , wherein the passage for the cladding material have a first guide region for providing an inner part of the cladding material of the outside cladding and an outer guide region is provided for the outer part of the cladding material.